Play for PINK – Save the Date
22nd Annual FOTOFusion in January, 2017
Palm Beach Photographic Centre Announces
22nd Annual FOTOfusion – January 24-28, 2017
GREATEST HITS: A Special Exhibition by Legendary Portrait Photographer Albert Watson,
Recipient of FOTOfusion’s Prestigious FOTOmentor Award 2017
Public is Invited to Numerous Community Events Including FOTOvision Photography Presentation
(West Palm Beach, FL – December 27, 2016) Fatima NeJame, president and chief executive officer of the world-renowned Palm Beach Photographic Centre (PBPC), today announced that the nonprofit organization’s 22nd annual FOTOfusion will spotlight legendary photographer Albert Watson, whose iconic images and celebrity portraits lead to him being named “one of the 20 most influential photographers of all time.”
GREATEST HITS: A Special Exhibition by Albert Watson, one of the world’s most successful and prolific photographers, will run at the Photo Centre from January 24 through March 11, 2017.
FOTOfusion, the popular cultural festival “where creativity and technology fuse,” attracts hundreds of professional and hobbyist photographers to West Palm Beach for five days of workshops, lectures, panel discussions, multimedia presentations, portfolio reviews, hands-on computer classes, demonstrations, and photo shoots taught by more than 60 world renowned photographers, digital imaging artists and picture editors – all of whom donate their time and expertise to educate, mentor and encourage creativity among participants of all levels and ages.
Among the highlights of FOTOfusion 2017 will be:
FOTOMentor Award
The annual FOTOmentor Award will be presented to Albert Watson, who is renowned for his fashion, celebrity and fine art photography. He has shot over 100 covers for Vogue and 40 for Rolling Stone magazine since the 1970s. He has been acclaimed as one of the 20 most influential photographers of all time alongside Richard Avedon and Irving Penn. Many of his portraits are iconic portraits of rock stars, rappers, actors and other celebrities.
Watson also has created the photography for hundreds of successful advertising campaigns for major corporations, such as Prada, the Gap, Levi’s, Revlon and Chanel, and he has directed many TV commercials and shot dozens of posters for major Hollywood movies. All the while, Watson has spent much of his time working on personal projects, creating stunning images from his travels and interests, from Marrakech to Las Vegas to the Orkneys. Much of this work, along with his well-known portraits and fashion photographs, has been featured in museum and gallery shows worldwide. In June 2015, Albert Watson was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his lifetime contribution to and achievements in photography.
Each year, the PBPC Awards Committee selects a photographer to receive the FOTOmentor Award in honor of his/her lifetime achievements in the world of photography. Among the previous recipients of this prestigious award are Walter Ioos, Jr., Joyce Tenneson, Bill Eppridge, Ralph Gibson, Gordon Parks, Sebastiao Salgado, Arnold Newman, Ruth Bernhard, David Hume Kennerly, Duane Michaels and David Rubinger.
The annual FOTOfusion Awards Dinner will be held on Wednesday, January 26, at 6:30 pm. The cost to attend is $200 per person ($100 for FOTOfusion passport holders) and tickets are available by calling the Photo Centre at 561.253.2600.
Community Presentations
The public is invited to FOTOvision, a free event that will feature incredible photography from across the globe, including the world premiere of Pulitzer Power, the back-stories of several Pulitzer Prize winning photographers and their editors. It will be held on Friday, January 27, from 8 to 9:30 pm on the Great Lawn on the Waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach. FOTOvision is generously sponsored by the West Palm Beach Arts and Entertainment District and Zuma Press.
In addition FOTOfusion will offer numerous informative and entertaining public presentations by some of the world’s most distinguished, award-winning photographers. General admission is $10 per person or FREE for members of the Palm Beach Photographic Centre and FOTOfusion passport holders.
Wednesday, January 25:
- Bearing Witness with four-time Pulitzer Prize winner Carol Guzy
- What’s Wrong with This Picture (and How Do I Fix It)? with author/photographer Julie Adair King
- Combat from Behind the Camera with Stacy Pearsall
- The Most Important Picture with Brendan Bannon
- Collect What You Love with Daily Kaplan
- Chen Zhixian: The Statue on the Square with Robert Pledge
Thursday, January 26:
- Camera Ready: The Polaroid 20×24 Project with John Reuter
- The Photo Editor/Photographer Relationship with Erika Larsen and Kurt Mutchler
- Greatest Hits with Albert Watson
- Sony Tips & Tricks with Hector Parayuelos
- Going Against the Tide with Robert Farber
- The 2016 Election in Photos with Morrigan McCarthy, Ruaridh Stewart and Mark Murrmann
Friday, January 27:
- Nature Photography Meets the Modern World with Dennis Dimick
- Personal Favorites with Craig Semetko
- A Life in Photography with Joyce Tenneson
- Coming Back from the Dead: Basic Vernacular of Photography with Anthony Bannon
- David Burnett: Man Without Gravity with Robert Pledge
- The Engaged Observer – Visual Storytelling with Deanna Fitzmaurice
Saturday, January 28:
- The Olympics – 17 and Counting with Gary Hershorn
- Inside Rolling Stone with Sacha Lecca
- The Executive Portrait with Gregory Heisler
- Cuba Exposed with Vincent Versace
- Behind the Scenes of a Photo Shoot with Brad Smith
- Pulitzer Power Back Stories with Carol Guzy, Deanne Fitzmaurice and Tom Kennedy; moderated by Scott Mc Kiernan
For more information about each of these public events during FOTOfusion 2017, including time and location, please visit www.FOTOfusion.org.
About the Palm Beach Photographic Centre:
A registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Palm Beach Photographic Centre is dedicated to the enrichment of life through photographic exhibitions, workshops, community programs, and other educational and cultural events that promote the photographic arts. Located in the City Center municipal complex at 415 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, the Photo Centre’s hours are 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Thursday, and 10 am to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, please call 561.253.2600 or visit www.workshop.org or www.fotofusion.org.
“Start with the Y” Breakfast Series Continues January 11th
The YWCA of Palm Beach County presents the third breakfast in the series of four focusing on women’s health issues to be held Wednesday, January 11, 2017, at Embassy Suites Hotel, 1601 Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach, with registration at 7:30 a.m. and program at 8:00 a.m.
The topic for this event is “Human Trafficking,” with speakers Heidi Schaeffer, MD, and Liisa Spinello.
Heidi Schaeffer earned her Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Miami School of Medicine and subsequently trained in Internal Medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital. She has been a licensed Florida physician since 2000. Dr. Schaeffer is a member of the American Woman’s Medical Association and its P.A.T.H. (Physicians-Against-the-Trafficking-of-Humans) Committee. She has been part of the KidSafe Foundation Board for three years and now serves as Vice-Chair. She is the Vice-President of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches, as well as the Coalition Communications Specialist of the Executive Board of the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition.
Liisa Spinello, a native of West Palm Beach, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia. She also studied psychology and economics abroad at Reading University in England. Liisa was a Case Manager from 2003 to 2006 for the Florida Department of Children and Families and has been the Sexual Assault Care Coordinator at Palm Beach County Victim Services and Certified Rape Crisis Center since 2006. She is a Board Member and Treasurer of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches. In 2012, she was awarded the Lighthouse Award by the Health Council of Southeast Florida for going above and beyond her work to support the health and human services in our community.
“Florida ranks third in the nation in the prevalence of trafficking victims,” said Suzanne Turner, CEO of the YWCA. “Addressing this issue is timely since January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month,” she added.
Tickets are $35 per person and $350 for a table of ten.
For more information or to make a reservation, please call 561-640-0050, Ext. 134, or go to www.ywcapbc.org and select Events.
Wellington Garden Club Meeting on January 3, 2017
Wellington Garden Club Meeting
The Wellington Garden Club will meet Tuesday, January 3, 2017 in the Lakeview Room at the new Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.). A light breakfast begins at 9:30 a.m.,followed by a business meeting at 10:30 a.m. and a program at 11:30 a.m. on “Our Pollinators:Butterflies and Bees,” presented by Teri Jabour.
Jabour, who has lived in Florida for 41 years, has worked at The Nature Conservancy’s Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island, and has been program coordinator at Grassy Waters Preserve. Jabour is currently President of the Atala Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association (NABA), and a Master Gardener with the Palm Beach County Extension Service. She is active in butterfly surveys, conservation and butterfly gardens.
Guests are welcome, but seating is limited. RSVP to Doreen Baxter at doreenspot@ Comcast.net or (561) 793-6013.
Senior Day at Loggerhead
What: Senior Day 2017
When: January 3, 2017 at 2 p.m.
Where: Loggerhead Marinelife 14200 U.S. Hwy 1 Juno Beach, FL 33408
Description: Help us kick off our FREE Science for Seniors lecture series offered Tuesdays at 2pm on January 3, 2017 by joining us for our second annual Senior Day! Join featured speaker, Dr. Paul Brown, to discuss health and science while enjoying complimentary coffee and donuts as well as 10% off in the Gift Store during this FREE one hour lecture at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. A Harvard College and Tufts University of Medicine alumnus, Dr. Brown offers a dynamic presentation and truly has a gift for bringing seniors out of their shells!
Contact: To reserve your seat for the official kick-off of LMC’s Science for Seniors program, please contact Hannah Campbell at [email protected] or by calling 561-627-8280 ext. 105. Kindly RSVP as space is limited.
What: Lights Out Gala
When: January 27, 2017 from 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Where: Loggerhead Marinelife 14200 U.S. Hwy 1 Juno Beach, FL 33408
Description: Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s annual Lights Out Gala celebrates the start of Florida’s sea turtle nesting season. This year’s gala, themed the “Swashbuckler Soirée”, is set for Jan. 27 at LMC from 6:30-11 p.m. and will feature an exciting production performance, pirate-inspired entertainment, a cocktail hour in the center’s sea turtle hospital, a gourmet plated dinner and so much more. Dance the night away at one of Palm Beach’s most charming events, which raises critical funds for the center’s ocean and sea turtle conservation.
Contact: Tickets start at $400. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.marinelife.org/lightsout or call (561) 627-8280 ext. 103.
ARTHUR R. MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
ARTHUR R. MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Save the Date for the 18th Annual Everglades Day
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is proud to announce
Mother Nature’s Magic Show, its 18th annual Everglades Day on February 11, 2017.
Everglades Day is a free, family event with speakers, tours, games, food and animals
that celebrates the Everglades ecosystem. Please save the date and join us to
celebrate the ecosystem that gives life and magic to South Florida.
The Refuge is open from 5 AM to 10 PM, seven days a week. It is located off U.S.
441/SR 7, two miles south of SR 804 (Boynton Beach Blvd.) and three miles north of
SR 806 (Delray Beach’s Atlantic Avenue). Visitor Center hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m., seven days a week. An entrance fee of $5.00 per vehicle or $1.00 per pedestrian
is charged. A variety of annual passes, including a $12.00 refuge specific annual pass,
are available.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve,
protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of
the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it
happen, visit www.fws.gov. Connect with our Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/usfwssoutheast. Follow our tweets at
www.twitter.com/usfwssoutheast. Watch our YouTube Channel at
http://www.youtube.com/usfws. Download photos from our Flickr page at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast.
Tickets on Sale Now for the Wellington Father Daughter Dance
Tickets on Sale Now for the Wellington Father Daughter Dance
Fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and all blends of families are invited to take part in Wellington’s annual Father Daughter Dance on Saturday, February 4, 2017. The theme for the evening is “Sweet Dreams in Candy Land.” It will be a night of delight designed for daughters ages 5 to 14, and includes dancing, a delicious dinner, games, and pictures. Each couple will receive a keepsake to cherish the memories of this fun evening.
The Father Daughter Dance will take place at the Village Park Gymnasium, located at 11700 Pierson Road, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Tickets are on sale through Thursday, February 2nd (or until sold out) and can be purchased at the Village Park Gymnasium (11700 Pierson Road), or the Wellington Community Center (12150 Forest Hill Boulevard). The cost is $50 per resident couple, and $62.50 per non-resident couple. Additional tickets may also be purchased for $20 per resident, and $25 per non-resident.
This event is expected to sell out, so make sure to purchase your tickets early!
For more information, call (561) 753-2484. This event is partially sponsored by Simon Orthodontics; additional sponsorship opportunities are still available.
To learn about other events offered by the Wellington Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/Events.
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/enews.
For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch Channel 18 for the latest happenings.
Register for the Wellington Kids Triathlon returning in April 2017
Register for the Wellington Kids Triathlon returning in April 2017
Calling all young athletes. Get ready to swim, bike and run in Wellington’s Annual Kids Triathlon! This exciting and challenging endurance event takes place on Sunday, April 2, 2017, beginning at the Wellington Aquatics Complex (12072 Forest Hill Boulevard).
The Wellington Kids Triathlon is limited to children born between 2003 and 2013, and is designed as an introduction to a multi-sport endurance event within a safe and positive environment. The top male and female finishers in each age group will receive a trophy, and all participants will receive a medal. Registration is $35 and includes a t-shirt for each competitor.
Age Division
Year Born
Swim Distance
Bike Distance
Run Distance
Super Seniors
2003-2004
200 yards
4.0 miles
1.25 miles
Seniors
2005-2006
150 yards
4.0 miles
1.25 miles
Super Juniors
2007-2008
100 yards
2.0 miles
0.7 miles
Juniors
2009-2010
50 yards
2.0 miles
0.7 miles
Trikes
2011-2013
25 yards
0.4 miles
0.25 miles
The DEADLINE to register is by NOON Monday, March 27th, 2017. Participants may register online at www.active.com. No race day registrations will be accepted. All competitors must be current USA Triathlon (USAT) members. Registration is limited to the first 250 entries, so register early to secure your spot!
We are accepting sponsors for this “Great Hometown” event at this time. For additional details visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/KidsTri.
As another way to stay informed on the latest news and updates from the Village, residents are invited to sign up for Wellington information and updates at www.wellingtonfl.gov/KidsTri.
For information about other Wellington programs, events, activities, and updates, please visit www.wellingtonfl.gov or watch WellingtonTV for the latest happenings.
Mounts Botanical Garden
Mounts Botanical Garden Launches 10th Annual Mounts Photography Contest & 2nd Annual Youth Nature Photography Contest
Entries Accepted January 15 through February 15, 2017
(West Palm Beach, FL – December 19, 2016) Rochelle Wolberg, Interim Operations Manager/Director of Programs at Mounts Botanical Garden, Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest public garden, today announced the launch in January 2017 of two separate but simultaneous photography contests:
· Mounts 10th Annual Photography Contest
· Mounts 2nd Annual Youth Nature Photography Contest
In both contests, the photographs must have been taken at Mounts Botanical Garden, located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach. The Guest Judge will be the respected nature photographer Alan Chin Lee, and contest entries will be accepted at Mounts between January 15 and February 15, 2017.
For the 10th Annual Photography Contest, the Garden is accepting photos in four different categories: Plant Life/Nature Close-Ups, Animal Life, People in the Garden, and Scenic/Landscapes. The fee to enter is $5 per photograph, and the contest winner will be announced on March 1, 2017.
For the 2nd Annual Youth Nature Photography Contest, entries will be accepted from amateur photographers between the ages of 5 and 18 years old, who are encouraged to use a camera, smartphone, or tablet to capture nature and the magical spaces of Mounts Botanical Garden. This contest is FREE to enter, and the winner will be announced on March 1, 2017.
Official rules and entry forms for both contests are available on the Garden’s website (www.Mounts.org). Participants can enter a maximum of three photographs each.
The world-renowned Palm Beach Photographic Center will display the winning images from both contests and will host a special reception honoring the photographers. The Photo Centre is located at the City Center municipal complex at 415 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach.
About Mounts Botanical Garden of Palm Beach County:
With a mission to inspire the public, Mounts Botanical Garden is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden, offering gorgeous displays of tropical and sub-tropical plants, plus informative classes, workshops, and other fun-filled events. The Garden contains more than 2,000 species of plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, bromeliads and more. Mounts Botanical Garden is a facility of the Palm Beach County Extension Service, which is in partnership with the University of Florida and the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden.
Located at 531 North Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Mounts Botanical Garden is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from noon to 4 pm. The suggested donation for entry to the Garden is $5 per person. For more information, please call 561.233.1757 or visit www.mounts.org.
Brooke USA Junior Ambassador Q&A
Dear Editor,
The below Q&A piece between junior riders Tatianna Verswyvel of Wellington, Florida and Ransome Rombauer of St. Helena, California would be an excellent fit for Around Wellington. The two teenagers are both Junior Ambassadors for Brooke USA.
Brooke USA is a 501(c)(3) charity, which exists solely to support the overseas work of Brooke, the world’s largest international equine welfare charity. For more than 80 years, Brooke has been alleviating the suffering of horses, donkeys and mules who work in some of the poorest communities on earth. This year Brooke has reached its goal of reaching two million working equines around the world.
The involvement of these two dedicated upper level young riders in such a worthwhile organization is something that would surely be of interest to your readers. Please let me know if there is any additional information that I can provide you with.
Sarah Harper
[email protected]
Junior Riders and Brooke USA Junior Ambassadors Ransome Rombauer and Tatianna Verswyvel found some time in their busy schedules at the 2016 CP National Horse Show to sit down and talk about their passion for the work of Brooke USA. Tatiana, an aspiring journalist interviewed Ransome about how she got involved with the organization and what she has done for them as well as her plans for the future.
How did you first become involved with Brooke USA? Why?
I first saw their pamphlet at the National Horse Show, and since I’m really involved with equine welfare and horse rescue, I found it was different from other programs. Brooke doesn’t just take the horses and donkeys away for treatment, they actually educate people so that the effects are long-term.
What about the Brooke made you feel a connection to our organization over the others?
I love that it goes further into helping the communities of countries that really need it. I love how they are helping people take better care of their animals, rather than just providing them with supplies or taking the animals altogether. Brooke understands that the equines aren’t these families’ pets; they’re their incomes and main sources of survival. I haven’t heard anything else to be like what Brooke does.
How did your personal love for rescuing equines contribute to your junior ambassadorship?
I started rescuing miniature horses off of the internet about four years ago, and I grew up riding at a horse rescue farm, so I already had that background and sympathy as well as the eagerness to get more involved. Now I have 10 miniature rescue horses, and two regular rescue horses, half of which came from kill pens in Texas. It’s definitely my life calling, and I wish there was a more sustainable way so I could keep rescuing more. Either way, I love it and I’m glad I became involved with Brooke USA in order to take my passion to the global level.
How have you contributed to Brooke USA during your role as ambassador?
Since I became involved recently, I attended the Charlotte Dujardin dressage clinic, I’ve volunteered at booths for them, and I’ve donated as well as sold some special edition Rebecca Ray totes in benefit of Brooke USA. My mom and I designed and donated them. I’m also donating all my prize money to Brooke USA, and 100 percent of that is directly donated to projects around the world. I didn’t realize how much of a difference that would make, but it’s come out to be a substantial addition going to a great cause, even though I’m not particularly competitive in the jumpers.
What are your hopes for inspiring the younger generations to become involved with our organization?
I work hard to spread the word by talking to my friends who haven’t heard of it, and by wearing my Brooke USA jackets in order to promote it even more. I think a lot of kids don’t realize how big of an issue the state of working equines is, and it is one that Brooke USA works extremely hard to tackle. How truly privileged our own animals are in comparison to the ones of those who depend on them. I think our horses here enjoy better living conditions than humans do in many parts of the world. We’re all here because we love horses, why not help other people love theirs?
What would you say is the most gratifying part about being a part of the Brooke USA?
Not only am I excited to be a part of an organization doing so much for both animal and human welfare, but their mission is also so close to my heart, that all I can say is I wish I’d known about Brooke USA sooner.
How do you plan to continue your ambassadorship through college?
I plan to continue competing on the A-circuit, as well as ride on a college team. I would love to get a whole equestrian college team involved with Brooke USA to further educate the next generations on what we are trying to accomplish. Even though college riding has no prize money, fundraisers and booths are still great options to keep making a difference and contributing to Brooke USA’s incredible movement. As for college, I plan on going to Southern Methodist University (SMU) and majoring in advertising with a possible minor in photography.
What goals do you strive for as a rider?
One of my main goals was to win the USET gold medal, and I achieved that this year. Long-term, I would love to become consistent at the grand prix level and hopefully compete in a Nation’s Cup someday.
How has charity work and helping the greater good contributed to your growth as a rider and a well-rounded individual?
I think what is cool about my ambassadorship is that I don’t feel like I’m doing work when I’m fundraising or donating my winnings: it feels natural in that I’m doing what I already love, but at the same time making an immense difference towards something I feel very passionate about.
Tatianna Verswyvel is a 17-year old show jumper from Mexico. She’s represented her country all over Central and South America, and has competed in the junior divisions throughout the United States. Tatianna became involved with Brooke USA last winter season as she fell in love with its mission and philosophy. She is thrilled to be working with Brooke USA and combining her passion for the organization with her future goals of becoming a journalist.
Ransome Rombauer is an accomplished A-Circuit competitor. A senior at Sonoma Academy who will matriculate to Southern Methodist University next year she has had a stellar junior career. After winning the 2015 USEF Talent Search – West Final and the Reserve Championship at the USHJA EAP National Finals she carried her success into the 2016 season. In 2016 she won her 20th USEF Talent Search Medal class earning her the USEF Gold Medal. Less than 100 riders have achieved this career high accomplishment since the 1960’s. She has recently begun competing with success at the Grand Prix level, most recently with a 6th place finish at the $40,000 HMI Equestrian Classic Grand Prix. She is passionate about animal welfare and currently has 10 recuse miniature horses and 2 rescue horses.